ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Community Development Director with a Request to CONCUR with the RECOMMENDATION from the HEART OF ILLINOIS HOMELESS CONTINUUM OF CARE (CONTINUUM), Regarding the 2016-2017 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT (ESG) Program Application Process and Funded Program Components.
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BACKGROUND: The City of Peoria is considered an entitlement jurisdiction by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As such, funds from the Federal government, through HUD are allocated to Peoria on an annual basis by the use of a formula. The City of Peoria receives three (3) formula grants - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). The allocation of these grants from HUD to the City is not on a competitive application process. However, the procedures in which funds are released from the City to the community are typically done through a competitive application process.
On September 24, 2013, City Council approved the recommendation from the Human Resources Commission (HRC) to transfer the review and ranking of future ESG grant application and funding allocations to the Heart of Illinois Homeless Continuum of Care (Continuum) (Council item # 13-394).
ESG regulations require the City to collaborate with the Continuum to conduct needs assessment, develop policies and procedures for service delivery and discuss funding allocation in order to provide the most comprehensive system of care for the homeless and at-risk population. Due to the required collaboration, the HRC recognized that the Continuum would be the most appropriate entity to review applications and make ESG funding recommendations to City Council.
At the September 8, 2015 Continuum's Governing Board meeting, the following action occurred:
1) Approve the Continuum as the entity to review applications and make funding recommendations to City Council for the 2016/20...
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